4. He said, “One thing led to another: Micah hired me and I’m now his priest.”
5. They said, “Oh, good—inquire of God for us. Find out whether our mission will be a success.”
6. The priest said, “Go assured. God’s looking out for you all the way.”
7. The five men left and headed north to Laish. They saw that the people there were living in safety under the umbrella of the Sidonians, quiet and unsuspecting. They had everything going for them. But the people lived a long way from the Sidonians to the west and had no treaty with the Arameans to the east.
8. When they got back to Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked, “So, how did you find things?”
21-23. They turned away and set out, putting the children, the cattle, and the gear in the lead. They were well on their way from Micah’s house before Micah and his neighbors got organized. But they soon overtook the Danites. They shouted at them. The Danites turned around and said, “So what’s all the noise about?”
24. Micah said, “You took my god, the one I made, and you took my priest. And you marched off! What do I have left? How can you now say, ‘What’s the matter?’”
25. But the Danites answered, “Don’t yell at us; you just might provoke some fierce, hot-tempered men to attack you, and you’ll end up an army of dead men.”
26. The Danites went on their way. Micah saw that he didn’t stand a chance against their arms. He turned back and went home.
27. So they took the things that Micah had made, along with his priest, and they arrived at Laish, that city of quiet and unsuspecting people. They massacred the people and burned down the city.